Tokyo International Friends & Events 東京国際交流会
Tokyo Best Expat Community | Make Friends in Tokyo | Get Access to Exclusive Events.
Expat guides, tips, and resources for living in Japan in 2026. Updated information for foreigners navigating daily life in Japan — from apps and banking to food and transport.
Furusato Nozei's Rakuten point rewards ended in October 2025, and stricter local-product and transparency rules begin this October 2026. Here's what foreign residents in Japan need to know about this often-overlooked tax-saving system — and whether it's still worth using.
Rakuten Card's referral bonus is nearly doubled for 10 days only — new members get 11,000 points instead of 6,000. Here's exactly how to qualify before the September 28 deadline.
Starlux and Tigerair Taiwan have added a wave of new direct routes between Taiwan and Japan in 2026 — including two brand-new Kaohsiung routes that just launched this month. Here's the full list, with dates and frequencies.
Japan's mobile phone fraud-prevention law was overhauled in 2026 — ID verification is moving to IC-chip reading, and data-only SIM cards are being pulled into scope for the first time. Here's what's confirmed and what to expect when you buy a SIM.
Gasoline in Japan should be a lot more expensive right now given global oil prices — it isn't, because the government is spending reserve funds to hold the national average near ¥170/liter. Here's what's actually happening and what it means for your budget.
Japan's paper health insurance card is no longer accepted as of August 2026. Here's exactly how foreign residents get a Myna Hokensho or Shikaku Kakuninsho — and how to fix the name-mismatch problem that trips up so many of us.
Japan's National Police Agency logged ¥324.1 billion in fraud losses in its latest annual figures — fake police calls, social media investment schemes, and romance scams. Here's how these actually work and how foreign residents can avoid becoming a statistic.
Japan's Cabinet has approved cutting the consumption tax on food from 8% to 1% for two years starting April 2027. Here's exactly what's been decided, what still needs Diet approval, and how residents can save on groceries right now.